Butter warming receptacle



April 29, 1952 B. H. SIMPSON I 2,595,010

BUTTER WARMING RECEPTACLE Filed June 11, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET' l FLarl.

#Z M W 2%? Afton 1 25 April 29, 1952 B. -H. SIMPSON BUTTER WARMING RECEIPTACLE 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 11, 1947 z rm, 5 m oy y 6 /1 mm I M A M n F I Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUTTER WARMING RECEPTACLE Benjamin Harold Simpson, Minneapolis, Minn. Application June 11, 1947, Serial No. 753,867

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a warming device, and while the same might be used for warming various articles or materials, it particularly is designed for warming such material as butter. It often happens that butter, particularly if kept in a refrigerator, becomes quite hard and is thus inconvenlent to use or spread. It is desirable to warm the butter somewhat so that it will be softened and can be easily cut or spread.

It is an object of this invention to provide a Very simple and eiiicient Warming device and one which will uniformly heat and soften a piece or block of butter.

It is a further object of the invention to provides warming device constructed and arranged to be placed on a heating means such as a bread toaster, said device comprising a dish-like receptacle having a chamber therein adapted to receive the butter, together with a cover resting on said receptacle, said receptacle and cover being constructed and arranged to provide an opening through which heat or heated air may enter said chamber or cover.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a warming device adapted to be placed upon a heating means comprising a receptacle having a chamber therein adapted to receive the material to be warmed, said receptacle having a ledge adjacent its top, a cover upstanding from said receptacle and adapted to rest on said ledge, said cover being movable to close the said chamber and also being movable to provide an opening into said chamber. and cover either at the end of said l'receptacle or adjacent the end thereof.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a warming device adapted to be placed on a heating means such as a toaster, said device comprising a shallow dish-like receptacle having a chamber therein adapted to receive the material to be warmed, the same preferably having means at its bottom adapted to be disposed in the breadreceiving slots of a toaster, said receptacle having a ledge adjacent its top extending thereabout, a

dish-likecoverfor said receptacle preferably of considerable height, the same resting on said provide such a device as set forth above in which said cover may be provided with one or more openings adjacent its topwhereby air can circulate from said heating means through said cham her and cover.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the device and through a portion of a toaster supporting the same; I

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts of a device in difierent positions;

Fig. 3 is a central transverse vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a view partly in central vertical longitudinal section and partly in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of a part of the device;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modifled form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a partial view in central vertical longitudinal section of the form shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a partial plan View of one of the parts showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, a device is shown comprising a receptacle 1 0. While this receptacle might be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as of shallow dish-like form, the same being substantially rectangular in plan and having rounded corners. Receptacle It] has a bottom Illa and a bottom flange HJb extends from and extendsv around bottom lBa. The bottom of flange 10b forms the supporting surface for receptacle I3. Receptacle It is also preferably provided with depending ribs lfic disposed respectively adjacent the sides of bottom Isa, which ribs are constructed and arranged to be conveniently received in the breadreceiving slots or openings Ila of an electrical toaster l I Said toaster comprises the usual casing lib, the members lie between which the pieces of bread are disposed and the heating elements lid. A further description of said toaster will be unnecessary. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bottom of flange l0 rests upon a top surface He of easing Hb. Receptacle ID has a chamber Hid therein which is adapted to receive the mate.- rial 9 to be warmed. Said receptacle has'a flange we surrounding chamber Hid at the top thereof and also is provided with a ledge ID) surrounding flange lfle. The flange [Db is of slightly less height at one end of the receptacle so that bottom Illa slopes downwardly slightly toward one end which is the end at the left, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. A cover I2 is provided and while this might take various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as of inverted dish-like form. The cover I2 is adapted to have its lower edge rest on the ledge l Cover I2 is provided with a central rib 12a projecting from its top which constitutes a handle. The sides of cover l2 at their lower end are disposed rather close to flange lile so that little movement of the cover laterally is permitted. The ledge Inf is shown as considerably wider at one end of the receptacle than the other, which is the end at. the right as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

In operation the receptacle l6 will be placed upon the heating means and if this heating means is a toaster, the receptacle will rest upon the surface I la, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and ribs lilc will be disposed in the bread-receiving openings or slots Ha. These ribs Hie will prevent any appreciable lateral movement of the receptacle on said toaster. Ribs Iiic extend throughout the major part of the length of receptacle ID, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The material 9 will be placed in chamber I Eld with cover [2 removed and will be supported on bottom lila. The cover 12 will now be placed in position on ledge Inf, as shown. The cover l2 can be moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 where its left hand, as shown in Fig. 2, is adjacent the flange or rim lfle. In this position the cover tightly closes the chamber ltd and the chamber in the cover. The heat from the heating means will thus be applied through the material of receptacle H). The cover I2 can be moved endwise on ledge if to have its end overhang the end of receptacle Iii, as shown in Fig. 1. A passage is thus provided into chamber Hid and into the cover. Heat from the heating means can thus pass through said passage and will assist in warming or softening the material 9. By having the heat or heated air thus pass into the chamber in the receptacle and in the cover, a more uniform heating of the material is obtained. If heat is applied only to the bottom of the material, this portion is apt to be overheated or melted before the top of the piece or block is desirably heated. By having the heat pass into the chamher in the receptacle and the chamber in the cover, a uniform heating and softening of the material can be had. The size of the passage into the receptacle can be regulated by moving cover l2.

In Figs. 6 and 'l a slightly different form of the device is shown. Ledge I0) is of considerable width at both ends of receptacle l0 and an opening or passage liig is formed through the end of receptacle It at one side of chamber ltd, which passage is shown as tapering toward its upper end. Instead of cover l2 overhanging the end of receptacle Ii], it can be moved to extend partially over or completely over the top of passage lllg so that heat or heated air from the heating means can pass into chamber Mid and into the cover. This will provide a uniform heating of the material as above described. Cover [2 can be provided with one or more openings 12b adjacent the top of said cover. Heated air passing into the receptacle and cover can thus pass out of the opening or openings l2b to afford a circulation of air through the receptacle and cover.

In Figs. 7 and 8 another modification is shown.

The member i8 at its right hand end, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is provided with a recess (0i of elongated form which extends into the chamber Ifid. Recess Iili extends along the end of chamber Hid and the bottom of the recess slopes downwardly into chamber Hid at the inner side of said recess. When cover I2, as shown in Fig. 7, is moved to the left to partially or wholly extend over the top of passage my, the right hand end of the cover will be over the recess lOi. Heated air can then pass through passage lllg into the chamber Ifld and the inside of cover I2 and can pass out through recess Iih under the edge of. cover l2. Circulation is thus provided for the heated air and a uniform heating of the material is secured.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and efficient warming device for warming such material as butter. While different materials could be used for the device, the preferred material is glass. The receptacle is and cover can be easily pressed and molded so that the same can be quite inexpensively made. The material will be such that it will withstand. heat so that the device will be quite durable. It is apparent that the device will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicant's invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A warming device adapted to be placed on a heating means having in combination, a receptacle having a chamber therein adapted to receive the material to be warmed, said receptacle having a ledge adjacent its top, a cover for said receptacle adapted to rest on said ledge, said ledge being wider at one side of said receptacle than at the other side of said receptacle, said cover having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of said chamber and said narrower side of said ledge and said cover being movable on said ledge to a position to close the chamber in said receptacle and being movable to another position to overhang said ledge and provide an opening into said chamber and cover.

2. A warming device adapted to be placed upon a heating means having in combination, a receptacle having a bottom and a flange extending about said bottom and depending therefrom forming the supporting means for said receptacle, said bottom sloping downwardly toward one end thereof, said receptacle having an outwardly projecting ledge extending thereabout adjacent its top, a dish-like cover adapted to rest on said ledge, said cover being movable to one position to close said chamber and being movable to another position to provide a passage extending upwardly into said chamber and cover.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, said cover having openings adjacent its top whereby a circulation of air may take place from said first mentioned opening through said chamber and cover.

4. Th structure set forth in claim 2, said receptacle having a passage extending upwardly through said ledge at one end thereof whereby when said cover is moved to said last mentioned position it will extend over said passage whereby a circulation of air can take place through said passage into said receptacle and cover.

5. A Warming device adapted to be placed upon a heating means having in combination, a receptacle having a bottom and a flange extending about said bottom and depending therefrom forming the supporting means for said receptacle, spaced separate parallel ribs depending from said flange, said receptacle having an outwardly projecting ledge extending thereabout adjacent its top, a dish-like cover adapted to rest in inverted position on said ledge and having an opening in its top, said ledge having an upwardly extending passage therethrough at one end, said cover being movable to a position with one end inwardly of said passage and being movable to another position Where an inner edge thereof is beyond said passage whereby air can pass upwardly through said passage into said receptacle 20 and cover and pass out through said'opening.

BENJAMIN HAROLD SIMPSON.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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